Vadim Levental

Vadim Levental (born 25 October 1981) is a Russian writer.

Biography

Vadim Levental was born in Saint Petersburg. Currently he is working as an editor in "Limbus Press" publishing house and executive secretary of National Bestseller literary award. In 2011 he authored the idea of "Literary Matrix" collection of short stories mentioned by Neva magazine as "perhaps the most successful literary projects of the last few decades".^[1] Levental's debut novel "Masha Regina" was nominated for Russian Booker Prize and shortlisted by the Big Book award jury. According to the Guardian it is "a postmodern bildungsroman... filled with allusions to Russian literature and German philosophy".^[2] Some critics consider Levental as one of the most prominent young Russian writers^[3] and even "the unique hope of Russian novella"^[4] referring to his second book, a short story collection entitled "Panic Room". English translation of "Masha Regina" was published in UK by Oneworld Publications in 2016.^[5] In August 2016 the novel will represent Russia at Edinburgh International Book Festival.

Quotes

"No matter who authored the Book of Genesis, he was just as wrong as the author of Capital: labor’s not a curse and not a joy, but a gift to the proletariat exiled from a futile paradise (because in the final reckoning, any tools of labor belong to God) and labor’s the only option for escaping existential horror". Vadim Levental, "Masha Regina", translated by Lisa Hayden, OneWorld Publications, UK, 2016.

References

^ Chatsky the punk, brother Pushkin... Neva magazine review of "Literary Matrix" collection (in Russian)
^ Vadim Levental: 'A novel must be more than just the story of some made-up life'
^ Lev Danilkin's review of "Masha Regina" (in Russian)
^ Review of "Panic Room" collection by "Literary Russia" magazine
^ FT: ‘Masha Regina’, by Vadim Levental, translated by Lisa Hayden

[1] Chatsky the punk, brother Pushkin... Neva magazine review of "Literary Matrix" collection (in Russian)

[2] Vadim Levental: 'A novel must be more than just the story of some made-up life'

[3] Lev Danilkin's review of "Masha Regina" (in Russian)

[4] Review of "Panic Room" collection by "Literary Russia" magazine

[5] FT: ‘Masha Regina’, by Vadim Levental, translated by Lisa Hayden

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